Great Article! You are right everyone believes that as long as you're 'spiritual' you can go to heaven. Everyone forgets that heaven comes with a 'price' that has to be paid in full here on earth.

Hello Billy, This is your cousin Betty. Your mom sent this article to my sister Bev, and she forwarded it to me. I don't know what to say, other than that it touched my heart more than I can say in words. Your message is so true and can't be remembered often enough. Thank you so much.
p.s. Have I ever told you how proud of you I am?

I put my own time in as a grunt in the 101st; in the early 60's when everybody still jumped. God fearing grunts were a distinctly small minority. The priority for most on both Saturday and Sunday was drinking beer and chasing skirts, with nary a thought for church. I remember our platoon leader. He was a big, tall, good looking guy out of West Point. Couldn't read a map or use a compass to save his life. Fortunately he was just smart enough to stay out of the way and let our Platoon Sargent make all the decisions. Sgt. Corbin was the smartest dude in the Company, so we were in very good hands.

We didn't talk much with officers, or they with us. That is what NCO's were for, to protect us from the officers and tell us what to do. You talk about your men as though you really knew them, an intimate personal relationship/friendship. Perhaps, but it would be improbable. More likely, you are just wrapped up in your own unique religion, the one lodged in your own head. You worry about all their souls, which some of them might well deny having. Whatever your religion projects upon them is not the same as the unique religion each might have carried in their heads.

Be kinder to thyself. Why should you feel more agony for the souls of these nine than you do for the thousands in Darfur?

Waited to post after this thread was closed.

Victor Hugo's Les Miserables

The play has a song that so completely conveys the loss that so many share--

(Marius, recovering from his wounds, imagines he is back at the ABC cafe)

MARIUS
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.

Here they talked of revolution.
Here it was they lit the flame.
Here they sang about `tomorrow'
And tomorrow never came.

From the table in the corner
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On the lonely barricade at dawn.

Oh my friends, my friends forgive me

(The ghosts of those who died on the barricade appear)

That I live and you are gone.
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.

Phantom faces at the window.
Phantom shadows on the floor.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will meet no more.

(The ghosts fade away)

Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me
What your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will sing no more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJnjcX8skXk

Over the course of my almost 25 years of active duty military service I made a point of staying away from all the various members of the God Squad. 25 years of listening to that government-sponsored clap trap is enough to put anyone off. While some of them did some good work and provided some useful counseling, ultimately they were not much better than Soviet political officers; their job was to get the troops to toe the military line.

Patches, ranks, salutes, hymns, songs, medals, and flags, flags, flags exist for just one purpose - to dazzle the troops - and not just the troops - and keep them from thinking for themselves. It's just the "roar of greasepaint, the smell of the crowd."

"Heaven" and "Hell" are just the church's way of controlling people. The existance of either is nonsensicle. Heaven sounds like a boring way to spend eternity, and Hell makes "God" seem like a psychopath enspired by those "Saw" movies. The writer need not worry at all, because it's unlikely there is any hell to go to.

William,

Those who have been baptized into Christ are "clothed with Christ" (Galatians 3:27). "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). God does not dole out forgiveness to us in tiny doses on as as-needed basis; He has changed the status of those in whom he has created saving faith, creating the relationship of Father-child (as in Luke 15, which you cited).

God grant you peace in the passing of your men.

DCP

Dr. Blazek cares for a man's soul. Yet the Army does not care one whit for a soldier's safety. Asking the Army to institute proper safety procedures is like praying to Dr. Blazek's god. You'll get no response from either.

Geez, after reading some of these responses, maybe I should be praying for the people on here. I thought all of these people went to Canada when I chose to serve my country. Welcome back!

The Army does not care one whit for a soldier's safety. Asking the Army to institute proper safety procedures is like praying to Dr. Blazek's god. You'll get no answer.

I have an agent setup on Google that gives me anything with the the words "Blackhawk 101st crash" My son is currently a insturctor crew chief at the 4/101st Aviation BN. About a year and a half ago, he returned from Iraq and will be deploying to Afganistan in the way too quick future. Last September 11th (how ironic is that), he swapped flights with one of his best friends Sgt. Jeffrey Angel so that they could fly together that next day. Unfortunately they also crashed on a routine training flight when visibility closed in and they clipped some high tension lines on the Tennessee/Alababma border. Neither he nor the two pilots survived. My son not only missed death by a narrow escape and lost his best friend, but what really got him was that he personally had topped off the fuel tanks with 750 gallons of fuel and they too burned on impact. We all attended the memorial service and it was a very sobering affair. He left behind a young wife and a 4 month old daughter. I too, find myself praying for him with same feelings that you describe. I was headed for Vietnam but at the close of thw war (1972), I somehow got shipped to Germany. Maybe that was safer but if you recall those days, terrorism got its start in the '70's with the Munich incident and just picked up speed from there. We were constantly shot at, fire bombed once and had bomb scares too numerous to count with way to many of them being real. I remember at the time that I was fearful, but never once considered my own mortality. Maybe its good for us who have made it, to remember those who haven't. If nothing else, it is because as you said, they didn't get the chance for whatever reason to do so themselves. I find myself attending most all veteran events I can, and automatically praying for them who went before me even though I may not known them. I have always said, "there are no veterans, only survivors". Thank you for your article. It comes to me the first thing on a Monday morning and I needed to read it to remind myself of just how fragile life really is, because I certainly never thought of it when I was young. We were soldiers once and young just as General Hal Moore said.

For a believer, the answer is easy: just say your prayers and make the sign of the Cross any time you board a helicopter or anything else. But so what? Believers are in fact no less anxious than the rest to remain in this world. The answer is better machine maintenance, better air controls, and (perhaps smartest of all) avoidance of helicopters, except when nothing else will do.

As for the Afterlife, we should worry more for the legacy we bequeath to the living in the form of acts or example, rather than wheather heaven is a state of eternal celibate sterile bliss or a near-synonym: nothing.

I'd like to think that a lot of bowling goes on Up There. How else to explain thunder? But clearly there is not much celestial commitment to prevent crashes, quakes, tumors, war, hunger, or evil people. If free will is good, but requires the possibility of random or evil events, then the Creator faces far more defective product liability risk than the maker of a helicopter that breaks down all the time. Or does He prevent this problem by keeping trial attorneys out of Heaven? Perhaps they are all consigned to Purgatory to perform enternal tort and probative administration of fallen angels who miss poker and beer.

Dr. Blazek is flat out c-r-a-z-y. A loon. Is this guy really a teacher? That's scary.

I am sorry for your loss. It's never easy to lose someone you care about, and I think the majority of people will understand at least the feelings that come along with such a loss.

But for the writer, there is only so much responsibility you can accept for others. Not everyone follows your faith, and those that follow different faiths could well have made their peace with what they were doing and the possibility of not coming home. You may not know if they did or not, but have faith that they may have. Also have faith that there are many paths that one can follow that ensure peace, even if they are different than your own beliefs.

I sincerely hope I am not out of line in saying this, so take it for what you will. Even if they don't follow your faith, the idea behind your prayers, as a show of love for someone you care for, would be welcome. Don't put their fate on your shoulders, though. There are many paths, and all of us will find our own way in life. Spirituality is a personal issue, and not the responsibility of anyone but the individual in question.

I understand what it's like to lose someone, especially someone you care for. Please accept that you have done all you can, that some things are truly out of our individual control, and find peace for yourself.

Shepherd abandoned his flock to pin a Ranger tab on his "dear friend's" shoulder at Benning. What's that all about? What kind of Army Lieutenant would leave his platoon to be with his "buddy?" Sounds like too much time with the "priests." Maybe if he had been in that lead chopper he would have seen the danger and warned off the pilot? Come out of Babylon and find forgiveness yourself, Doctor. Their souls don't need or want your intercession.

Bill,
Such tragedies are always difficult to understand. They happen and we must live on. This is how we honor those who die, by living...and remembering,
but not by trying to force something on someone long gone.
In effect, by asking your question about being "right w/ god', you do those men a disservice. In death, you wish to make them what you are. In so doing, you ignore what they were and, thereby, you ignore their humanity.
Perhaps, besides remorse, you also feel guilt. Hence, your quest to try make to make everything right in the eyes of your god. But, you blatantly ignore theirs.
Simply remember them, Bill. And be grateful that you are alive to do so.
DMZ

Now there is a curious God. He sends young men to burn in hell for all eternity because they were killed suddenly before they could repent. Or perhaps as Dr. Blazek suggests they have a second chance "on the way up." Whatever may be the truth, Dr. Blazek reminds me of the Jesuitry I heard during my college "education." The real questions to ask here are: Why are young men sold on the idea that being trained to kill whomever the government decides is the enemy is somehow noble and praiseworthy? Why did Dr. Blazek participate in the first Gulf War? - a slaughter of enormous proportions followed by years of cruel sanctions which killed at least a million Iraqis, followed by another invasion which has destroyed countless lives? What did your God think of that, Dr.? Young man and women are trained by time-honored tactics to bond with each other and follow orders as soldiers - how else could a nation assault other nations in order to gain political, geographic or material advantages if it were not for the blood of its young, convinced that they were noble warriors?

Yes, we go to heaven when we die. Those of us who have made that arrangement, that is. But stop being Christian, which is forever questioning. Go higher, get to God and understand Yeshua, who is the factual personage behind the Jee-sus mythology. My blogspot explains how.

Hey Doc, everyone laughed at Kucinich when he saw an UFO, we should laugh at you as well.

Heaven? God? Who are these crazy folk? Praying to some space god and eating his flesh and drinking his blood every Sunday? And the idea that you can 'get right'[ with this fantasy by saying "I'm sorry" while your freakin' chopper is crashing? "I'm sorry?" How lame are these folk? How in reality's name did this guy get to write an article.

This Blazek gentleman is flat out crazy. Somebody needs to deprogram some of these cult folk. Christ would have puked if he could see what horrors have been done in his name.

Have a cracker, drink some wine. Cannibal/Vampire Space god worshipers...

Sir,

while I have deep respect for Jesuits and all other religious(having been raised Roman Catholic and exposed to many orders by family, friends, teachers and others before and since my time in the Navy) I find this article ludicrous.

If you or others did not pray for those men, would He look on them any the less? The notion of praying for the dead and the idea that a human prayer would change the mind and actually influence the actions of the Creator of the Universe is a notion I never have accepted in my 50+ years.

If someone who died as your friends did is not prayed for, will he for the lack of that prayer be condemned to eternity while another who is prayed for is accepted into paradise?

Made absolutely no sense to me as a child attending Catholic school and still doesn't.

My mind has always asked the same question as Dr. Blazek and my thoughts have always been like his, but what a great personal tragedy Dr. Blazek had to endure thru his life. It is these great personal stories of faith and courage that brings my admiration for such people and invoke deep soul searching within myself. I have always wondered why some people like Dr. Blazek are the ones who are chosen to see the reality of death on earth. I don’t have the percentages but I would say most people rarely ever face what Dr. Blazek has experienced. And why are there those who have witness a spirit like I have? I was raised as a Catholic and I am a firm believer in God but throughout my life, I have questioned within myself the faith that binds each religion. How could a death of a poor starving baby in Africa not be with God after death? How could a baby girl in China not be with God after her parents chooses a boy? How could a baby die in America because her mother fell asleep with her in the bathtub not be with God? These are the questions that divide us, but there is no question to me that these souls are with God. I tend to hope many life paths lead to the same God. May God bless you and your friends Dr. Blazek. Thank you for sharing your story

Since god is a concept invented by people, whether or not they were "right" with it, is a moot question.

Getting right with God was the last thing on the minds of those few that sent these men to their death;
They are Republicans with DOLLARS on their minds.

This is sickening.

God warns us all and it up to each an everyone to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God said "who so ever will let them come". The point is that he do not force his will on anyone because he gave mankind a free will to choose right or wrong. To make it more clear good or evil however it's your chose in life. The decision that you make with the chose is up to you. As a Christian repentance is a daily prayer to God through Jesus Christ because he is our High Priest. We no longer need to go to man or women to confess anything. We can go in our own secret closet and pray for repentance in the Name of Jesus and God will hear our cry for help. We are forgiven because Jesus die for our sins and they were nail on the cross. However you have to be Godly sorrow and really repent. Repent means to make a change and that would be for the better. God warns everyone, so are you listening to the Call of God to live holy before him? He uses ordinary people at times for that commission. May God bless you all that read this.

My brother, thank you for your essay. I'm sure your people appreciate your love and concern for them. I'm grateful that you were spared and that we still have you in the world.

God sent his Son to suffer and die for us because he loves us so much. His resurrection and ascent to Heaven fill me with overwhelming gratitude and love every Easter because I know that he suffered and died for losers like me. In the midst of my suffering I feel hope. I am certain that no hidden trap or sudden ambush can separate us from God's love. God calls on us through his Son to believe in him more than in our sins.

Right by God?! I think the question should be whether God got right by them. Its articles like this that perpetuate the God illusion and prevent the human race from finding a better way to deal with the miseries of the human condition. Miseries that in no small measure are caused by the concept of God and religion.

SS

Welcome to 'life'. bad stuff happens. God did not crash that helicopter so you can be obsessed with the deaths of all aboard. We do not know the time or the place and it is not ours to know.

Life is for living even with all its unpredictability. Let the dead bury the dead. Use your energy to help the living.

Dead is coming. Thank God for that. We all are currently doing time in Hell.

Amen.

I believe that no matter when you die, you don't get right with GOD on earth, You do so when being judged for your life.

what i believe nothing is unexpected for human beings it may be unexpected but everything which is happening and had happened were planned and designed by ALLAH almighty.

killed by road accidents,sickness and all other things are just a cause or reason to die otherwise we all have to depart from this world and death will embrace us in any convenient way.

Yonkers, New York
10 March 2008

The U.S. military should have more of these good and religious men like William Balzek who so love the men placed under their command that they take the trouble and the pain to pray for them if they die unexpectedly and so quickly they really have no time to do it themselves.

With Balzek praying nonstop for those thirty-nine troops of his who died in a helicopter crash many years ago, there is a very good possibility, nay probability, that all those thirty-nine men are now safely in the bosom of their God, in heaven of course.

I do hope the families of those unfortunate men know what William Balzek has done pro bono for their beloved, get in touch with him while he is still very much around, and do the decent thing, which is to thank him for his goodness and his generosity.

A man like William Balze deserves to go to heaven. We can only hope that when his time to go comes, he still would have the few minutes he will surely need to pray to his God. There may not be another William Balze around to do that for him.

Mariano Patalinjug
MarPatalinjug@aol.com

why is fear of death always used to remind us to be good christians (even if we are not)? Bloody Hell, can't you come up with anything better than this?

we, the humans, are all united in death , the americans, the iraqis , the afghans, the jews , the palistnians, i wish people would ponder over this,

THANKS FOR THIS. I'M A PROTESTANT, BUT IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER THE VERSES YOU QUOTED.

Over the weekend I had an accident that was caused by a driver of a much larger vehicle intentionally cutting me of and slamming on his brakes after pulling immediately in front of me. This driver had blown his horn at me for about 1 block and then pulled next to me and gave me the finger, which I returned. This apparently pissed him off so much that he then engaged in the above act.

It was raining on Friday in Washington when this occurred [3 days ago.] He had a Toyota Sequoia with ABS and other braking speciality packages on it, capable of stopping between 16,500 to 17,300 pounds of gross vehicle weight. It weighs over well over double what my Civic weighs. My Honda Civic not only did not have ABS, but weighed only just over 2,500 pounds.

Guess what happened -- DA !!!

The Sequoia promptly stopped on the downgrade wet pavement at about K & 27th St, N.W., but in my effort to stop, I lost traction and rear ended him. His vehicle was still somewhat elevated in the rear from his quick stop effort and mine hit his trailer hitch above the bumper and took out the hood, the radiator, the condenser and God only yet knows what else also. Its not peanuts, that's for sure.

After the impact, I got out of my vehicle and went up to his driver's side window and screamed at him, 'just what kind of a jack a$$ stunt was that that you just pulled?!!!??!!' I could see that all he had locked all the doors and was on his cell phone, probably calling 911. Now I could have bashed his window or kicked in the door, but that would have done no one any good. Thus I also opted to call 911 and having a camera in the car, I photographed the accident scene with some care.

About 10 minutes a police officer walked up to the scene and I told the officer what had just occurred. I asked him for a police report, to which he responded that he could prepare a report BUT since he had not personally witnessed the accident, he would have to charge me because I was in the rear vehicle. I pointed out the impact points on both vehicles and noted that they could only have been caused by a vehicle with the rear elevated in the front and that since I had immediately lost traction upon braking, my vehicle collided while level, not nose down.

The officer then asked for my license, registration & insurance card and spoke to the first driver, who was still in his vehicle. He returned with that driver's license, registration & insurance card for me and had determined not to charge me. At that point, I asked him IF the driver in the first car had requested that I be charged and apparently the answer was 'no.' I suggested that under all the circumstances, that could suggest a very guilty conscience and would he PLEASE go back and make sure the front driver was not asking that I be ticketed. Again he returned and again no ticket would be issued, though the front driver was not admitting any culpability [which was not expected.]

Driver one departed, I moved my vehicle and awaited a tow.

ONLY THEN DID IT OCCUR TO ME, that a major sea change of attitude was present in the first driver. Obviously, he had not intended to cause an accident by doing what he did, BUT HE HAD OVERLOOKED that not all cars have ABS [which is CRITICAL for effect a sudden stop on a wet road] and he had also overlooked the impact of a wet road on a Honda Civic. For all its safety features, ABS was not even available on Civics before 2000 and only the EX-A model [not the EX] had ABS for the next several years. If you are over 6' in height, you will need an LX without the sunroof, which gives you almost 2" extra headroom, but NO ABS. HONDA DOES NOT AS OF COURSE OFFER ABS ON THE CIVIC UNTIL THE 2005 MODEL YEAR and I wonder if it is even available on the Civic DX model for 2008.

Bottom line -- A moment of lapsed judgment by the front driver, when combined with the above referenced weather and mechanical limitations of my vehicle [no ABS on a wet road] caused what was SURELY merely an effort by the Sequoia driver to 'screw around' with the car behind him, BUT INSTEAD it caused a major accident.

I was afterwards so distressed that I called a friend who is a shrink, that I have known for over 30 years and discussed this with him. Yesterday in church, after the service I even discussed it with one of our priests. The observation of the priest, was the conclusion of the author of this article, namely, we cannot know where or when we will be 'called home' and if I was to take away anything [but damages] from this accident, it should be an awareness that whenever we drive, even safely and within the speed limit in a mechanically sound and safe vehicle, we cannot absolutely know what the next 15 seconds will bring. The priest suggested always praying for the power of grace and prudence whenever I drive and to make a special effort to do that for the next 3 weeks.

No problem for your men,
All God asks is that they be pro-torture, pro-war, pro-cheating-with-phony-voting-machines, against gay marriage, and against abortion.
By the way, is there some reason that Georgetown hired Feith?
Actually, do you really think Christ is so stupid he is going to forgive you and your religious thugs for your endless crimes against humanity.
I am afraid that you are in the center of a moral cesspool.
Think about it--Do you REALLY think Christ is that stupid?
Roger Segur

No problem for your men,
All God asks is that they be pro-torture, pro-war, pro-cheating-with-phony-voting-machines, against gay marriage, and against abortion.
By the way, is there some reason that Georgetown hired Feith?
Actually, do you really think Christ is so stupid he is going to forgive you and your religious thugs for your endless crimes against humanity.
I am afraid that you are in the center of a moral cesspool.
Think about it--Do you REALLY think Christ is that stupid?
Roger Segur

I am prompted to write a second time after reading the various comments here (my first comments were made based solely on the original article).

Firstly, congratulations to Chris for succinctly putting a point across which I entirely agree with.

But secondly I am somewhat shocked at the lack of humanity shown by some of the comments to this article. On the fact that these were military people, please put up your hand if you do not do a job that in some way does harm to a fellow man, whether directly or indirectly. Put up your hand if you have never acted competitively, putting your self interest above others. Put your hand up if you know the exact life circumstances that saw those particular men in that particular helicopter. We should not be so quick to judge.

My overwhelming feeling about this article remains one of sorrow. Accidental death is tragic regardless of who it is that dies. Dr Blazek is clearly still affected by this tragedy and - within the religious story that he has chosen as the basis for his life - continues to ask himself questions about those deaths. I don't have to believe in his Christian story - and I certainly don't. But if it is a vehicle through which he can find some comfort and some calm interpretation of his colleagues' passing then I will not deny him the right to seek that comfort.

Dear Dr Blazek
I feel for you in your sorrow and your predicament.
But I don,t think that The Creator would punish anybody for all the mistakes that we humans do all the time.
Think of what Jesus says about forgivness "Not seven times but seven times seven times" and that is for one day.
Jesus says "My Father and I are ONE"
How could The Father be less forgiving than The Son?
Dear Wishes from Rune B Nilsson
Sweden

I sympathize with Dr. Blazek over the loss of his men, and feel sincere sorrow for that loss. But I would suggest the following: We, as humans, construct and parse these systems, rules and procedures for salvation -- and then we fret if the procedure that we've created isn't properly or ideally followed. I'm not sure the Supreme Ruler of the Universe is constrained by this sort of bureaucratic procedure. God, one would think, can pretty much do whatever he wants regardless of the religious culture that we create or interpret. So I would fervently hope that we wouldn't need to fill out forms in triplicate in advance, so to speak in a metaphysical sense, before God will review our claim for salvation post-mortem.

So what. People die in auto accidents every day.

Hopefully, people who die unexpectedly have a moment or two to comprehend what is happening. Such is not always the case, so it's best that we be "prepared" for such an eventuality.

What does God have to do with just another routine, banal case of military incompetence?

Do the Jesuit chaplains pray equally for the soldiers that kill and the civilians they kill? Are not the killers and their victims one in God's eyes? I don't think I've heard many Catholic priests or congregations praying for the Iraqis killed by occupiers and invaders, but they commonly pray during each mass for our soldier-killers.

I hope Dr. Blazek will reply to some of the comments above. Most likely they weren't what he expected, but some do raise interesting and even poignant questions about which I'd welcome his reply.

And yes, to lose your comrades like that must be a terrible thing.

There is no where in the bible Purgatory is mentioned.Once you die, its over, you are either destined for heaven or hell. Everyone will not go to heaven.You will head to the place where you made your down-payment for while you lived on earth. You can complain all you want, blame God etc...but fact is, if you don't make your life right with God before you die, that chance will not come up again. I have never seen anyone on their death bed pontificating about doctrine and dogma, all they want to know is the surety of where they are heading once they breathe their last. I would rather like there is a heaven and hell than live like there ain't one and realize when its too late they exist. We can look at it many ways, but if each of us is honest, there is a calling within us that yearns for fellowship with our creator God. Jesus stands at the door and knocks and whoever opens the door to Him, He comes in and saves.You will be judged alone so don't use the excuse that some christians put you off from becoming one, its an individual thing. I pray that God will lift the scales that so many times blind many for them to see the life and freedom that is in Christ Jesus. He is true peace, love and grace to face each day.

Catholic prayers are SO far removed from what the Bible says its embarrassing. I watched alot of Catholic tv and am amazed how much of a cult they really are. The Bible says, "it has been appointed for people to die once and THEN comes judgement." Praying for people AFTER they die is a useless use of God's air. AND William Blazek, you MUST be born again!

I am sorry for the loss of these lives, and for the effect upon the survivors, rescuers and families.

It is tragic that we risk so many lives to serve as the world's police. Far less treasure will be wasted when we end our attempts at empire.

As to the immediate question posed, I wonder if it is possible to be right with god if, at the moment of death, one is practicing to kill other human beings?

I have came close to death a number of times in my lifetime. Auto accadents, near misses at work, nearly freezing to death and a few more in my long career as a railroad track employe. Every time it was a calm and plesent experance. It was like standing at a door to another room. Just there for me to enter. No fear no remorse just the the idea do I go on to something better or stay where I am. I hope this makes sense and makes it easier for people who have never been there. Death is the going to be the end of us all, if we live long enough. Old Coot

A truly outrageous article.

To wonder if these men were ready to be with God, makes me wonder what difference it makes one way or the other.

I mean isn't their entire mission to kill others who similarly wouldn't have time to make peace with their God?

All in all a sad, sick joke.

Why are people so arrogant as to believe they know what happens to us after death? This whole story is based upon the assumption that such a God exists that would punish anyone who does not believe in them. How does the author know that? Because he believes it?

Not all good people know the prayer you mentioned.

With god they don't need it. God already knows if you are good or bad. If you keep god in your life the end makes no difference. Always remeber that without him there would be no you.

God Bless

Not all good people know the prayer you mentioned.

With god they don't need it. God already knows if you are good or bad. If you keep god in your life the end makes no difference. Always remeber that without him there would be no you.

God Bless

Dr. Blaszek,

Thank you for this beautiful and inspiring article. I know it has touched many hearts as it has mine. I hope and believe these young men are at rest with a loving and merciful God.

Regarding some of the unkind commentary here, I was reminded of the 8th Beatitude: "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for My sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

God Bless.

How can those men be "right with God" when they are out training to kill people?

Always depressing to be reminded that people in such positions of power in our society rely on superstitious nonsense in their decision-making.

If G-d will condemn a soul because it's possessor didn't apologize at the last minute... or on the other hand forgive the soul of an inveterate evil-doer who happens to have time to say a prayer at the last minute... then I'll pass on this unjust faith.

Yuck, what a load of self-congratulatory horse droppings. Catholics are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to sincere spiritual introspection.

So all of your life's work counts for nothing. The way you lived your life counts for nothing.

All that matters in deciding whether you supposedly spend an eternity in heaven or in hell is whether you checked in with a deity in the moment before you death? Oh Gaaawd. What shallow, childish, incoherent blather.

Ask me if I care

That terrible accident and the awfulness of sudden death -- accident, homicide, war death, illness, act of nature -- are understandably sobering for Dr. Blazek and would be for anyone. But his take on the mercy and love of God differs from mine. I am a believer in the same tradition, but trust God's goodness much more than fearing the randomess of one's particular state at that moment. That seems to me to short circuit notions of grace and make it all too happenstance -- much like the dilemma as wonderfully posed in "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." Sure, try to live a good and loving life -- and trust God's love and not that random moment when death comes for whatever is next in this mystery.

The Old Testament says that there's nothing after death. Once we die that's it. There isn't anything else. So why do people believe what the Pharisees like Paul believed in instead of what the Sadducees believed in? While Jesus wasn't cited as being a Pharisee He did express their beliefs.

Dr. Blazek,

I had no idea a platoon leader was responsible for his men, whether Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic, atheist, or otherwise, being "right with God" before their deaths.

I'm not particularly worried about their eternal fates: if the Christian God is as powerful as the Christians say, then I'm sure the Christian God arranged for each Christian on that doomed helicopter to have the opportunity to do, say, or think whatever was necessary to ensure they were "right."

If you can suspend time on a battlefield, you can suspend it just about anywhere. Just take it on faith.

While I am an atheist, this column I think is beautiful and very valuable. It brought a tear to my eye.

The concept of 'preparation' for death - whether that is preparation for acceptance by one's God, or more simply preparation through reconciliation with one's earthy brothers and sisters - through words and acts of love, of apology, of support, and of gratitude - is so very important both for the deceased and for those left behind.

I hope your guys are happy too. That you are writing about them 20 years on says much for them. And though I cannot join you in prayer, I have spent a minute down here in the Australian summer with eyes closed reflecting on their lives and passing.

Thankyou for this important column.

Well LT, if your men were anything like the men I served with at Ft. Bragg (and yes we did more than a few night missions in UH60s as well), what they were thinking about most was probaby how much beer they were going to drink after they got back from the field and wondering whether they would get laid that weekend... I doubt many were concerning themselves about the whims and whimsy's of your god or whether they were 'right' or not with him... Hope that gives you some comfort

I suppose they should have been ready to die, that does not mean you have to think about it everyday, you just do it once or sometimes. They must have been if they believed and if they didnt believe they did not need to do it.

The ghost of Hamlet's father is unique for nobody ever came back from death to tell what it is like.

I suppose they must have been ready if in the Infantry, that would have been an important issue for them.

It's always good to remember and pray for the dead if we hope that is good for them and it is something we should do if we believe, even if we can not see where they are.

An article worth reading and right on target at this time of the year when we look at the dying of Christ. Death is real for Bill and his men are lucky they have him as a friend forever. I have appreciated all of his articles because he brings the perspective of a professional person for whom faith makes a difference. He knows how to give his life for others and how to keep other in his heart in a meaningful way.

I suppose they should have been ready to die, that does not mean you have to think about it everyday, you just do it once or sometimes. They must have been if they believed and if they didnt believe they did not need to do it.

The ghost of Hamlet's father is unique for nobody ever came back from death to tell what it is like.

I suppose they must have been ready if in the Infantry, that would have been an important issue for them.

It's always good to remember and pray for the dead if we hope that is good for them and it is something we should do if we believe, even if we can not see where they are.

When people are killed suddenly, whether for a good reason or just as another random incident in the universe, it is of course a searing emotional experience for those left behind. But obsessive worry about the souls of the departed is pointless: the people who died are simply gone, nonexistent, in oblivion, extinct. The only thing to expect from death is nothing. The author's spirit could be much more less troubled and at peace if he freed himself from his theological web and accepted this basic reality.

Dying while on active duty is an honor wheter it be in a UH-60 or a POV on leave.

He says this in the article--so ther is no doubt whatsoever about what he is talking about "getting right".

> Amen.”

It is clear that the writer is viewing this as he probably does all things thru the lens of the catholic church. Not having time to get right clearly refers to catholic doctrine. A doctrine that says it is ok to have been a member of the Hitler youth and a Nazi soldier so long as you accept his savior before you die but a baby killed by the Nazis is doomed.

Sadly this modern day tribalism still goes on.

It is clear that the writer is viewing this as he probably does all things thru the lens of the catholic church. Not having time to get right clearly refers to catholic doctrine. A doctrine sat says it is ok to have been a member of the Hitler youth and a Nazi soldier so long as you accept his savior before you die but a baby killed by the Nazis is doomed.

Sadly this modern day tribalism still goes on.

Just one of many concepts out of a different time and an alien logic. Or else, maybe God really is capricious, officious, and arbitrary. And another thing- are there people you can't see how you could share heaven with? Who will change- you or them? Both? Will it really be you after such a change?

Dr Blazek writes about the possibility of heaven "I am rather looking forward to finding out what happens." I think he should prepare himself to either a) never know, or b) to be extremely disappointed to discover that it does not exist.

Keep praying for the war machine, and you will certainly go see Jeebus when you croak.

What a self-righteous creep. "Georgetown University" and "ethics" in the same sentence is a salty load to swallow.

Leo Chen- Thanks for posting..

"One of the central experiences of life is that of loss."

At first we have the guilt of being untouched. Then we realise to endure the suffering of loss, we must become survivors and carry the memories of our lost loved ones with us.

I'm sorry for your loss, I truly am. And I see you're concerned for the rest of us (there is a little bit of judgment in that but I think your heart is in the right place). But overall this reads a little like an old tale to frighten kids - remember to eat your peas or the boogey man will get you, remember to say your prayers every night or God will reject you, etc. Fear of the unknown can't be the only motivator to find God, can it?

My old outfit was the 327Th Hq and Hq, Supply at F Campbell the years go back to 58-59 This is a very sad story and i offer my prayer as well. I do recall this story as a passing story here in Austin, TX it does bring back good memories of Ft Campbell. (arnoldbowers1@aol.com) Frank Bowers Austin TX

Instead of wasting their time worrying about their non-existent immortal souls (how selfish is that?), why not just do right in THIS world, try to do what little you can to make it better. I cry to think of all the man-years wasted worrying about the afterlife, which has always been just an elaborate scam to convince the poor to work without reward for the rich. The scam has worked for years, but people need to mature and realize that all they ever will have is in this world.

Think about eternity for a moment. Really think about it - there is no possibility for growth or advancement in eternity. And if in heaven you're reprogrammed out of liking all the sinful things you like now - to what extent can it be said that you're still the same person after you die? It makes no logical sense! And yet religion has been used to convince people to work without reward for generations. It's a crying shame.

as the other posters have said this is pretty much self centered egotistical garbage, on the part of the sergeant concerned. the people who died were either right with god or not before the accident, and the idea that some 1 minute prayer before they died is some how going to change how god deals with them is sniveling fundamentalist bullcrap. secondly it isnt this sargeants business to be worrying about their relationships with god, its none of his business whatsoever. jesus how incredibly unprofessional and arrogant and overbearing of this man. the first thing this guy needs to learn is to mind his own business. the last thing we need is some kind of litmus test for religion in the military, and the assumptions that this arrogant, self aggrandizing religious nut case is making is a clear example of just what is wrong in the army right now. as the bible says, remove the plank from your own eye before you remove the speck from your neighbors eye. too bad most of the religious fruitcakes, aka the pious dont even read or practice the most basic parts of their own religion, like staying out of other peoples issues.

I'm almost 70 years old and I've seen my share of the deaths of my friends. I also served in the Army in the Sixties and Vietnam was my war.

My sense is that We Are All In God's Hands -- all of us, the "good" and the "bad", the young, the old, the "worthy" or "unworthy", etc., etc.

One of the central experiences of life is that of loss. We lose time, we lose opportunities, we lose money, friends, our loved ones, our youth, our health, and sooner or later we lose our life.

And to some of that experience of loss we can attach our judgement that it was unfair.

It was unfair that illness or accident took the life of one of our young.

It was unfair that a natural catastrophe killed so many innocent people.

Yet it happens daily.

This only makes moral sense if there is another realm of reality where Nothing Is Lost. It's been my experience that such a reality exists in the here and now of which we are also a part of.

And it has nothing to do with whether we "believe" or disbelieve or are even aware of any other reality other than that which we live our daily lives in.

It has everything to do with the fact that we exist, that we live, that we are.

We, and this whole global reality, exist with or without our understandinng.

Our experience, of course, is that we are Finite, though all around us exists the Infinite.

We are but skin, flesh, and bone. Yet we are surrounded by this wonderous galaxy that supports our ability to breathe, to live, to be.

We are players in a larger context of reality, important to ourselves and important to our Creators -- and understood and loved by our Creators.

In that caring context, everything is all right, and everything will be all right. And nothing is lost.

Peace.

Beautiful, touching, so well-written.

Dr. Blazek:

I was touched by your story and understand the feelings that you have about your men and their fates. I imagine that you may have a little survivor’s guilt, as well. You touched on so many of the questions that all people have.

I am positive that we go to heaven. I assume that you are Catholic. Although I am not a Catholic there are many parts of Catholic doctrine that you can look to for comfort that you may not be aware of.

Unlike the typical heaven and hell afterlife destinations that most people are taught; Catholic teaching also includes purgatory and limbo as possible “destinations.” You may want to talk to a priest about the specifics, but from what I have read limbo is a place for people who believe in God but have not been baptized. It is a place of complete contentment, but outside of God’s presence. You may also want to investigate studying in some other translations because the wording in Catholic bibles typically misses some of the citations that I am about to give you.

As harsh as this may sound, I imagine that most people who suffer just a little in life would look forward to a place of such contentment even without God’s presence. Limbo also raises the implication, with its presence of God focus, the possibility that hell is a place of “spiritual death.” The real pain is being outside of God’s presence and love. Understand also that the bible says that people “suffer” in hell. One must be alive in some sense to suffer (see the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus at Luke 16:19-31).

God is loving, righteous and just. He wouldn’t create us and teach us His ways only to destroy us because we didn’t recite some rote prayer the night before we died. He wouldn’t destroy someone who was good all of his life just because he happened to sin just before some sudden fatal accident. This is contrary to His forgiving nature.

Likewise, if you were a believer but were never baptized, how could such a formality make such a big difference? Indeed, the Catholic Church and others believe that anyone who sincerely is seeking God can be saved (see Hebrews 11:6; and also Luke12:48). The difference between living under the Law of Moses and living under grace is that Jesus is not so concerned with the letter of the law but the Spirit.

Although controversial amongst many evangelicals, I firmly believe that Holy Scripture describes a hereafter with many levels. How else can one account for the often overlooked second half of this famous quotation from Mathew 25:23: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many”? There must be “classes” or “ranks” in the hereafter.

Another verse in the Holy Bible speaks of “a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). For me, the dispositive quotation is found at 1 Peter 3:19-20. Jesus went and preached to those who had been disobedient before Noah’s flood. Why would Jesus preach to these “prisoners” unless they to also can be saved?

So stop grieving for your fallen charges, they are truly in God’s hands, regardless. One book in the Apocrypha, the books in the Catholic canon but not the Protestant, says that praying for the dead is valid. I believe it is in Tobit near the end.

Nevertheless, I have also had the Spirit tell me to stop praying about people, like you have. Remember the bible tells us not to pray amiss (James 4:3). Although the context here is different than in James I believe the Lord is telling you that He’s heard you. Move on.

Although it is understandable for you to be concerned about those that you knew, Jesus Christ teaches us to be concerned about all of Creation. Just think of all the people and situations that you could have been praying for all of these years when instead you were praying about something that was already resolved.

As you noted, people die in gruesome deaths all of the time under various circumstances. Have you prayed for others who have died horrible fiery deaths? What if they are not Americans, or Christians?

What about Israelis killed by terrorists? What about innocent Palestinians killed by Israelis? What about ordinary Iraqis who have seen mangled, burning body parts on the way to the market? What about the families of those who have been kidnapped and their families haven’t a clue where their loved ones are? These people will probably forever (at least on earth) be scarred by post-traumatic stress syndrome. As will most people who have lived through war worldwide. This is something that you are not unfamiliar with.

We are supposed to have compassion for all; not just family and friends. I pray that God continues to bless you!

This is a beautiful article showing the love and empathy one can have for his fellow man. If only everyone had this great caring, this would be a better world. Sorry to say, there is too much "I" and not enough "we." Thank you.

I think if the author were to put aside all that theological mumbo-jumbo he'd sleep a bit easier. One should worry more about life, and let the after-life take care of itself. Simply, no?

It was 3 weeks into deployment #2 for Staff Sergeant Reynolds. A master mechanic on the Chinook chopper went with 3 crew to diagnose a potential problem before a mission. They came down in a ball of fire...

He was laid to rest in Virginia, and is survived by his wife and 3 children under the age of 7.

SSGT Stan Reynolds
US Army

Hmmm... Are men in training to kill in a religious war right with God if they accidentally die before they actually kill someone? It would depend if your God was all-knowing, all-seeing or if you had to petition for his attention. Predestination or free will? Does God control what happens or merely observe and judge? Are you judged for your deeds or whether you say, "Oops. I'm sorry," at the moment before your demise?

Even then, it'll depend on whether your God or their God really was the correct choice.

Sarah smoked them.

OMG Mike- Quit watching old movies on TV and get a good education...

And if you're going to quote OWK- try

“I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damn fool idealistic crusade like your father did. It's your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the GUARDIANS of PEACE and JUSTICE in the Old REPUBLIC. Before the dark times, before the Empire.”

oops. A lightsaber is a weapon. Mike's gonna get upset.

Sarah--If you only knew how stupid you sound. If Jesus were here he would tell you to SHUT UP.

Why, Sarah, you're just a little quote machine today and such the Kool-Aid drinking patriot. Why don't you quote me some of George W. Bush's "wisdumb" next? "Ignorance is bliss"--you of all a$$h0l3$ should know this. Isn't that the official credo of The True Republican? Since it's Sunday, how come you're not on your knees in church or shopping at Wal-Mart with the rest of the Good, God-fearing Americans, Sarah?

And like Obi-Wan Kenobi says: "Use the force, Luke." That's a better quote than any of the dreck you've posted. Now, all we have to do is find a President whose first name is Luke.

Mike- I'm trying to be sensitive of your obvious youth and will constrain myself from pointing out the TRUTH to you- until your acne clears and you begin to shave...

Sarah:

You're just a little quote machine today. Ignorance is bliss. You of all a$$h0l3$ should know this. Why don't you quote me some of George W. Bush's famous lines next?

Since it's Sunday and you're such a good Amerikan, shouldn't you be in church to be followed by an economy-boosting spending spree @ Wal-Mart. Sarah, you are such the patriot. I admire you. Really, really, I do....

what

"Obviously, she believes an American life is worth more than anyone else's."

Wow Mike You REALLY are an ignorant @sshole. Apparently you have no idea how many people from other countries risk their lives to come to America. And yes, I am one of those American by choice. I love and understand my country and I will never tire of waving the flag right in your face.

To quote Ayaan Hirsi Ali-

" You can spit on freedom because you do not know what it is to have no freedom"

And your cinematic understanding of history is lacking.. The thin red line was originally used in reference to an 1854 battle during the Crimean War.

FGS- educate yourself before you post again or continue to make a fool of yourself.

I hope Sarah's arms don't get too tired from waving the flag. Obviously, she believes an American life is worth more than anyone else's. That's a real Christian perspective and surely represents the belief of someone who is entirely self-satisfied with their own smug perspective. Have you stood on the "thin red line" personally or are you just stealing the concept from Jack Nicholson's rant in "A Few Good Men" about "standing on the wall...blah, blah, blah." Yes, more killing is what this world needs.

This article is unadulterated puffery, designed to inflate the status of the writer: "my men", "my squad", "machine guns", "helicopters", "Rangers" ...

Sudden death is all around all of us all the time, not just in the military experiences of a blogging, self-important, Ranger, physician, teacher. Let the good doctor write about auto crashes, mine explosions, urban gunfire, and hit-and-run deaths; anything that does not make him and his group the center of the story.

Prunejuice. Pure, unadulterated prunejuice.

Some of you obviously don't read. The writer doesn't know if his men were right with God or not. He hopes they were but their salvation would not be based upon "saying the right prayer" but having true contrition for the things they did that offended God. The prayer is simply a way to express that contrition.

When people are sentenced in our worldly courts, the severity of the sentence is partially based upon the remorse and acceptance of responsiblity shown by the perpetrator. Why would anyone expect God to have lesser standards?

Luke 12:36 "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks."

Wow, well, if someone can live an honest, moral life, and then be forced to spend all eternity in Hell because he or she for whatever reason didn't say those words: thinking first of their loved ones? I would have to say that your God is one sadistic bastard, and I am (maybe) eternally sorry that His demands force compassionate people like you to worry about this sort of thing. Plus I am a little hazy on the continuing prayer: can one really intercede on behalf of someone in Hell? Like if you pray often enough, God will raise them up to Heaven? I thought it was a sort of thumbs up, thumbs down proposition, above human intercession.

Posts from gdwymer and joe coogan make me so proud of the men and women who serve in our military and their families. Our nation is able to preserve the rights of free speech regardless of your own set of morals or understanding of life's realities.

These posters live in comfort and don't even understand the "thin red line". They don't even acknowledge that their ability to speak freely is a gift from a group of people better than them.

So rave away sheltering *ssholes..

And thank you William Blazek and all veterans for standing in the thin red line.

"You came for the glory- To fight and to die.
You stood in the thin red line. Remember the heroes- When stories are told. They died in the thin red line."

And what prayer does the Army teach you to say before you smite your enemy with gunfire, grenades, artillery, or an airstrike? Does it matter to you if the other human being you are about to kill is "right with God" the instant before you send that person to face his creator? And what about the collateral damage (innocent civilians) that occurs? I find it deeply ironic that a military man is filled with so much angst about dead people because it was your business as an Airborne Ranger to make people dead. I agree with the prior poster: bunch of hypocritical palaver.

What a bunch of pitiful Catholic angst and blather. If your own faith is so weak that you actually believe all the messiness and inherent nonsense of the Catholic dogma, then poor, poor you. What do you expect when you go to war?

Just curious....how do you know that they weren't "right with God" before the ill fated mission? Did you arrive at the conclusion that they weren't because they lived and/or believed differently than you or did you subsequently hear something about it directly from God?

Doesn't this make you question why you would have faith in a God that would send any one of your men to hell, simply because they hadn't prepared a proper prayer or because they believed in a different faith?

You wouldn't put up with a bully in any other part of your life, why do you do so in your God?

Doesn't this make you question why you would have faith in a God that would send any one of your men to hell, simply because they hadn't prepared a proper prayer or because they believed in a different faith?

You wouldn't put up with a bully in any other part of your life, why do you do so in your God?

Thank you for sharing. I can't imagine what you or the families went through. But it's good to put life in perspective often.